Mike Procter: Completing his run-up

Is it really true that you bowled off the wrong foot, or did it just appear that way?

It definitely only appeared so. All I had was a very quick arm action. Normally if you are a right-arm bowler, you deliver the ball as your left foot comes down. In my case, because of my quick arm action, I delivered the ball before my left foot came down.

How did your action come about? Did it trouble you in any way and did anyone try to tweak it?

It was perfectly natural. Back in high school, when I switched from seam bowling to quick bowling, I didn’t realise that it was as awkward as it looked. It never troubled me and no one ever suggested that I change it.

Does your success prove that the best action for anyone is simply the one that comes naturally?

To me, every player is different. You coach around the natural ability of that person; you don’t make any change, otherwise everyone is playing the same way.

Are you concerned about over-coaching in fast bowling now?

Yes and no. I am in favour of the gym work that goes on these days as one has to be very fit to bowl fast. But at the junior level there are coaches who don’t encourage young fast bowlers to bowl more than three or four overs at a time and I am not in favour of that. A fast bowler is one of the greatest sights in the game, and if a guy has got the natural ability to bowl fast, no one should stop that. Jeff Thomson, one of the quickest bowlers ever, was naturally fast and no one coached him.

Which fast bowlers down the years do you think had the most freakish action?

Max Walker – he wasn’t quick but he was a very good bowler. In recent times Lasith Malinga is an exciting prospect. He is very unusual in that he bowls from a round-arm action, but everything else is normal.